Second name the official given name

[Eve&Josh 5]

Hey y'all!

I just came over to the US on K1, and when filling out the I-94 I realized that having filled out my first name in the First Name (Give Name) box (as instructed), it will be thought of as my official name that I go by. But, as it happens, I go officially by my second name and would like that to be the case here in the US as well.

So, the question is that how should I go about this when filling out paperwork? I would love to have my second name on my credit card, green card, marriage certificate etc etc. Should I just use my second name wherever I am asked for First Name (Given Name)? In Finland you can usually mark the official name with a * or underline it, if your official given name is not the first one. I wonder, is there something similar used here in the US? My birth certificate does indicate that I go by my second name, so would it be correct to put that into the First Name (Given Name) box in the future?

Thanks a lot for your help dear VJ!

-Eve

[payxibka 10,045]

Your current legal name is what the green card is going to say...

If your current legal name is Linwood Paul Smith and you prefer to be known as Paul, your green card will still be in your legal name

[bigdog 376]

All legal documents will use your legal name, everyone who knows you will know or be told how you like to be addressed. Same for people born in US.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hey y'all!

I just came over to the US on K1, and when filling out the I-94 I realized that having filled out my first name in the First Name (Give Name) box (as instructed), it will be thought of as my official name that I go by. But, as it happens, I go officially by my second name and would like that to be the case here in the US as well.

So, the question is that how should I go about this when filling out paperwork? I would love to have my second name on my credit card, green card, marriage certificate etc etc. Should I just use my second name wherever I am asked for First Name (Given Name)? In Finland you can usually mark the official name with a * or underline it, if your official given name is not the first one. I wonder, is there something similar used here in the US? My birth certificate does indicate that I go by my second name, so would it be correct to put that into the First Name (Given Name) box in the future?

Thanks a lot for your help dear VJ!

-Eve

When you say your birth cert indicates that you go by your second name what do you mean? It says "known as" or something?

My brother, for example, has 3 names (not including his surname). He is known by the second but when writing his legal name he must write all three. The ONLY way to change your first name is via legal name change. If you're planning on filing for citizenship I would wait till then as it's free, if you're not planning to then you might consider a legal name change after you've adjusted status so that when you ROC you can change your name on the card then OR you'll have to pay the $450 I-90 fee to change the name on the card.

As someone else said about it's perfectly fine to have one name as a legal name, and another as the name you go by. My bosses name is "James" by he goes by Jim. Just like Jonathan's go by Jon, Timothy's by Tim, Anthony by Tony etc etc. Just tell people your name. When you get a job tell your employer your legal name but ask that your badge or whatever else is in "X" name as that's the name you prefer. Most employers are accommodating.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Finland has a different naming conventions/priorities. People might name their child Mark Christopher, even though they will call him Christopher, because Christopher Mark doesn't sound as nice. The OP explained that if the second name is the "real" name, then IDs have an underline or an asterisk next to the middle name to show its "dominance."

OP - We don't have that system here. If you want to go by your middle name informally, that is fine, but people who don't know you will see your ID and call you by your first name - there is no way to show which is "dominant." There is no problem correcting people though, and saying, "I go by my middle name." Good luck.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[Eve&Josh 5]

Thank you for your help and your comments! Harpa Timsah explained it better than I did - thank you for that!

As Middle Names can also be a person's last name (in case they have a two-part last name), I think I should just write down both my first names in the first name boxes from now on (especially if there's not middle name box in them, like the I-94), just so that I will for sure have both the names on any ID's and other cards and papers. I don't care if my first name is on them, as long as my second name hasn't been dropped out.

Vanessa, my birth certificate states "preferred first name" or something of the like (don't have it at hand right now to make sure the exact wording) below my personal info. Whenever I need to fill out forms etc., I indicate this by using an asterisk or by underlining my second name (or middle name) - just like Harpa Timsah explained.

Thanks again for your help!

-Eve